WASHINGTON (CNN) - Finger sandwiches won't be served, but there will be a lot of frustration brewing about the current tax system at "Tea Parties" being held Wednesday across the nation.

Activists are holding these events on tax day to voice their opposition to the current tax system and the federal government's spending decisions, such as bailing out the banks and the auto industry.

So, what do you think? Have President Obama and Congress taken the right steps to help the ailing economy? Have Republicans been smart to oppose his fiscal policies? Does the tax code need an overhaul?

soundoff(670 Responses)

obama/mama

I really think the GOP and the right wingers are afraid that Obama will succeed. They hate the fact that they have to answer to a black man. This is really killing them. I hope they don't self-destruct before 2012. The man has been in office not even 4 months and just think you all have 3 yrs and 8 months to go. The hatred is going to kill you all...

April 15, 2009 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |

Al-NY,NY

I want to see Fat-boy "teabag" Shammity. That would prove their commitment to their "cause"

April 15, 2009 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |

rob

@Brian

It was the last year of the Bush term when the deficits rose, after inheriting a recession and then 9/11 Bush's economic policies were lowering the deficits in 05,06,and 07 despite the wars in Iraq and Afganistan and the over spending he did. It was after the Dems took controll of congress that all the trouble happened.

The Dem party depends on people being ignorant and it looks like that statagy is paying off based on the posts on these boards.

April 15, 2009 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |

Sarie Pilan

It is BRAINWASHING! I tell ya brainwashing! You betcha!

April 15, 2009 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |

The Lonely Libertarian of Liverpool NY

I have just returned home from the tea party here in Syracuse NY. And I'll tell you pro democrat bloggers, the people I stood with are not there for the GOP or the Democrats. They were there to protest 12.4 Trillion dollars spent of our money since 2007. Most of the time this money was spent by our congress without even reading what the money was for, or who was going to recieve it. It has been both of the major parties that are spending us the free citizens of this country into slavery.
Being a person who lives in NY state my tax freedom day is not today, but rather sometime in the third week of July. The federal tax cuts were just moved from the federal tax rolls onto my state tax burden. When I look at paying over half of my hard earned money to support a government than it is time for a tea party, Taxed to death is the theme of the day....

April 15, 2009 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |

Beth

Okay, people, the comments here are getting way out of line. These are people who just want to protest higher taxation and out-of-control spending. These tea parties were organized by ordinary people, not politicians. I have to say that you liberals are the meanest, most dishonest people on this planet. You like to protest ALL THE TIME if something doesn't go your way. Now groups of people from all walks of life are giving little demonstrations, and you can't take it. What happened to Freedom of Speech that y'all care so deeply about? At least these people are peaceful and aren't attacking old ladies and throwing things at policemen. Y'all accuse Republicans of being hate-mongers and fear-mongers, but I think Liberals are the hateful ones.
And if these protests don't mean anything to you, why do you feel the need to comment so hatefully? No wonder out country is going to hell in a handbasket.

April 15, 2009 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |

Bob

Complaining about the cost of 'Bush's' wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? (Forget the fact that a strong majority of Congress approved going into BOTH of these places...and shut up about the fabricated evidence of WMDs!) How much have these wars cost since 2001? Roughly $850 Billion over more than 7 years. Wondering why people are TEA'd off? Because our 'dear' President Obama and the Democratic idiots in Congress spent almost this much in one bill without even reading the friggin' thing!

April 15, 2009 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |

nick

Do the math:

Not 5 trillion but 16 trillion or 2 trillion a year overspend. In 2000 the projections were for plus 5 trillion surpluses for the year 2010.

Instead we got a deficit of 11 trillion dolars.

The difference is 16 trillions

April 15, 2009 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |

arithmetic is liberal

Little too late???? April 15th, 2009 2:17 pm ET
The 219 Republicans in the House/Senate could introduce legislation to solve global warming, balance the budget in 12 months, bring world peace and nominate BHO as president as long as he wants to be in charge. …and it would get shot down by the 316 Demacrats led by Nancy and Harry. All because it was a REPUBLICAN idea and Nancy and Harry would fall on their swords to get it to NOT pass.

And as soon as any workable ideas come out of the Republican Party, we might be able to put that theory to the test.

April 15, 2009 02:44 pm at 2:44 pm |

Char59

Do these people have any idea they are being used by the Hannitys and Rush's of the world. I bet most don't even know what they are protesting against. After all, isn't the group they are protesting for, the ones that got them in this mess in the first place? Once again the POOR helping the RICH! I guess I must be the only one who liked the increase in my pay check!

April 15, 2009 02:44 pm at 2:44 pm |

Dave

Taxes defined in the 80K page code and the proposed new taxes are destroying this country. Choke the citizen and private sector will be the downfall of this nation. We will soon look like a 3rd World nation: 5% on top and 95% on the bottom.

April 15, 2009 02:44 pm at 2:44 pm |

Hmmmm....

I love patriotism in action- not the garden variety PC type but the type our forefathers put in place when they created this coutry.
Love it!!!

April 15, 2009 02:44 pm at 2:44 pm |

Moderate Democrat

I really would like an aerial view of Washington today, and the huge masses gathered there, and then compare it to the small crowd that gathered there on January 20th for the inauguration. Just so we can get an idea how massive these "teabagging" parties are in comparison to that really small gathering that took place on the 20th of January.

April 15, 2009 02:45 pm at 2:45 pm |

jake

Just got my April paycheck: There are some change; meaning the tax cut for middle class is working. NO TEA PARTY FOR ME.

"PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN"

April 15, 2009 02:45 pm at 2:45 pm |

Lesley Anne

I read a fascinating article on the Huff Post about what it was really like in America for ordinary Americans before the great depression of the '30s. It's definitely worth perusing if you want to put everything in perspective.

April 15, 2009 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |

rob

most violent protest around the world are from Liberals and now that the right is have there Tea Party the Obama is issuing false threats against the right just another Obama lie and he should be watching our borders the dangerous ones are coming from mexico

April 15, 2009 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |

Mel

Hey, Fair is Fair, everyone on here pays taxes so stop.

April 15, 2009 02:47 pm at 2:47 pm |

steve-0

Am I missing something? Have taxes gone up? Last I checked they did not.

April 15, 2009 02:47 pm at 2:47 pm |

jake

@Matt

You will have to wait for at least 8 years, and if you don't like it here (USA), you can move somewhere else (Out of the U.S)

Yes. In fact, Mr. 'Fair and Balanced' Cavuto was on Fox saying innuendos about it that would make your average Family Guy fan blush.... right before he lied about Fox covering the Million Man March.

April 15, 2009 02:47 pm at 2:47 pm |

Shawn from Olympia

Hey Sean O'Gara,

Who said we didn't mind all the spending on TARP and other garbage W spent it on? This protest is not about paying taxes, it's about the way they're being spent, or more accurately the way we're spending China's money. Which of course, we won't be able to pay back for several generations.

Obama wants to lower taxes? Sweet! How about he lowers spending along with it. He's going to triple our annual deficit and then cut it in half. Oh man I'm so impressed! This means he still leaves us worse off than we were with more mandatory spending on programs we can't support. My GOD why are people so stupid!

April 15, 2009 02:47 pm at 2:47 pm |

Sniffit

@ Independent Ed, who said, "I think it's funny how the liberals are painting this as a Republican effort. "

Walks like a duck, quacks like a duck? These quackers, including yourself, are all quacking half-quacked GOP/Limbaugh/Coulter talking points, almost all of which have major flaws in their truthfulness, completeness and accuracy...all intended to mislead and inflame and divide. We're done with that...or were you not listening on Novemerb 4, 2008? Until you stop quacking, you're gonna be labeled a duck.

April 15, 2009 02:48 pm at 2:48 pm |

Zach K

Our forefathers today would not take kindly to such biterness to the Bitter Tea Party. :)

GOP divided America. Move on GOP.

April 15, 2009 02:48 pm at 2:48 pm |

Shannon in SD

If you think that the tea party is just about taxes then you all have your CNN news goggles on. It"s also about upholding the rights that this country was founded on.

April 15, 2009 02:48 pm at 2:48 pm |

Isabelle from Washington State

This is a get together for all the self-centered ignorant people to act like idiots. It is obvious that the Republican Agenda is working under cover to create havoc. First Bush bancrupts our country and then the Republicans have the nerve to turn the blame on Obama.

Republicans do not want to accept the fact that Amercia was is great shape when Bush was elected. Bush and the Republican Party ruined America. Now we have President Obama who is trying very hard to try to save our country.

Pity to all the rich people who lost all their money. Pity to all the private resorts who can't fill up their hotel rooms. Pity to all you fat cats that are a poor reflection of humanity. Bush, Cheney, Gingrich, Rush, Palin, Cavuto, Madoff, and the rest of these self centered Republicans are all CROOKS!